Few inventions have changed the world as much as gunpowder has. But did you know that its creation may date back nearly 2,000 years? It's one of the so-called Four Great Inventions of China, and it likely all started with an accident. In this in-depth book, readers will learn more about the long and intricate background of gunpowder, from its unlikely beginnings to its use in old Chinese weapons and fireworks and its spread throughout the world. Photos...

Where would we be without paper? We'd have no books or magazines, no paper money, and no material on which to paint or draw. But fortunately, paper has been around for thousands of years-and we have ancient China to thank for that! This detailed volume explains the history of paper, from its likely origins with hemp fiber to its use for books and documents and its growing spread to other areas of the world. Photos of historical artifacts bring history...